Through Dec. 16
UCB accepting food, toys
United Community Bank, Versailles branch, is now accepting non-perishable food items and toys. These items will be donated to the Versailles American Legion Post 173 to help those in need. The lobby hours for drop-off are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. until noon. These items will be received through December 16.

Deadline Dec. 19Letters to Santa Contest
Santa is getting his Christmas list together, but some of you children haven’t told him what you want; so, write him a letter! Santa will answer each child with a personal letter, and you have a chance to win a gift from Santa, too! The top two letters will be awarded gifts! All letters received by December 19 will also be printed in our Annual Christmas Greeting Section on December 22. Be sure to include your name, address, age, and phone number, along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope, and you will receive a reply. All letters become the property of Ripley Publishing Company. Pick up a specially addressed envelope at one of the local businesses. Pick up a copy of The Versailles Republican dated Thursday, Dec. 1 for a complete list of businesses.

Polar Plunge seeks sponsors
Special Olympics Indiana’s largest signature fundraising event, the Polar Plunge, has raised more than $3 million dollars since its inception in 2000.
The 18 Polar Plunges around the state feature 2,900 plungers braving the icy cold waters in Indiana, as they fundraiser to support athletes with intellectual disabilities. Over 5,000 spectators and volunteers watch as both individuals and teams in costumes jump in freezing water to participate in this incredible team-building, bucket-list challenge. Sponsorship opportunities for the Polar Plunge are available for companies that want to partner with Special Olympics Indiana. Contact Greg Townsend at 812-584-6861 or by email at gtownsend@soindiana-rod.org, or visit http://soindiana-rod.org/polarplunge-sponsors to download a sponsorship form.

Jan. 7
First responder breakfast with legislator
Police, Fire, and EMS members please join State Representative Randy Frye for a breakfast to discuss public safety issues for the upcoming legislative session. The breakfast, sponsored by the Aurora Volunteer Fire Department, will be on Saturday, Jan. 7 beginning at 8 a.m.

UPDATED BY MARIA SIEVERDING DECEMBER 8, 2016 10 A.M.

Read the stories below and more in The Versailles Republican dated December 8, 2016.

Blessings come two at a time for May family
One in 500,000 . . . that’s what the chances are of a woman giving birth to three sets of twins without the help of fertility drugs. Breaking that down, it’s like lining up the entire population of Miami, Florida with most of the population of Cincinnati, Ohio and finding ONE woman who has had three sets of twins naturally. The odds are almost unfathomable. But that ‘one woman’ is Beth (Palmer) May. Read the entire story by Sandy Day Howard on the front page of The Versailles Republican. This story will also be available on this website after 1 p.m. Click here to read.

Ohio Rod Products celebrates 50 years in VersaillesOne person can make a difference and a group of forward thinking people changed the industrial landscape in Versailles 50 years ago. It all started with a cup of coffee at a local restaurant and a friendly police officer. The history of Ohio Rod Products, ORP, now known as Elgin Fastener Group, began with a couple stopping at what was then the Colonial Cottage (restaurant) at the south end of Versailles. Read the entire story by Wanda Burnett on the front page of The Versailles Republican. Pick up a copy at your local newsstand.

WIC switching to all electronic cardsThe Women, Infant and Children program in the State of Indiana has long been a benefit to families. Since last February electronic cards have been introduced to all 92 counties. This will be complete by the end of this year when the current paper checks will expire. This change will allow WIC participants to shop for their groceries anywhere in the state with just the swipe of a card. Read more in Regional Wrap-up on page 8 of The Versailles Republican. Pick up a copy at your local newsstand.

Versailles Town Court and Courthouse NewsRead the latest arrests, judgments and other information as submitted by officials on page 2, section B. Pick up a copy of The Versailles Republican at your local newsstand.

UPDATED BY MARIA SIEVERDING DECEMBER 6, 2016 10 A.M.
Read the stories below and more in the Osgood Journal dated December 6, 2016.

Remembering Pearl Harbor“John Anderson stared in disbelief at bombs falling nearby. But his instincts as a turret gunner on the USS Arizona took over—he rushed to his post. Seconds later, a bomb hit the forward ammunition magazine, the ensuing massive explosion ripping open the ship’s hull.” The events of the past few minutes coursed through John Anderson’s mind like the hellish nightmare that it was. He had been assigned to set up chairs on the ship’s main deck for the Sunday morning worship service. His brother Jake and many others were still sound asleep below deck on a serene Sunday morning at Pearl Harbor. Read more as written by James F. Burns on page 4 of the Osgood Journal. Pick up a copy at your local newsstand.

Police looking into death at OsgoodAccording to information from Ripley County Sheriff’s Sgt. Abe Hildebrand, the death of an Osgood man is being investigated. On Sunday, December 4 at around 9:42 p.m. a 911 call was made concerning a male who was possibly deceased. Responding to the scene were Rescue 69, Ripley County Paramedics, Osgood Fire Department, Ripley County Sheriff’s Department, Milan and Osgood police. Read more on the front page of the Osgood Journal. Pick up a copy at your local newsstand.

Kids and cops enjoy being together
More than 70 children experienced shopping with a police officer over the weekend as part of the Kops For Kids program sponsored by the Wm. Rayner FOP Lodge. Officers teamed up to give the children an opportunity to shop for themselves and others at the Greensburg Walmart. See the photo and read more on the front page of the Osgood Journal.

Survey response needed for fire dept.The Napoleon Volunteer Fire Department will be conducting a simple income survey across their service area in the next few weeks. This is a key element in a grant application process with the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. Read more on the front page of the Osgood Journal. This story will also be available on this website after 1 p.m. Click here to read.

Artist reception at Versailles State Park
The final Bicentennial Arts in the Parks project in Ripley County will be celebrated this Saturday, Dec. 10, with an art reception at the Recreation Hall in the Versailles State Park Group Camp from 2 – 5 p.m. Artist Debi Black, who has been working on the project “Seasons of Versailles State Park” throughout the year, will have the final paintings on display, and postcards of the paintings will be available for purchase. Read the entire story on page 2 of the Osgood Journal. This story will be available on this website after 1 p.m. Click here to read.

Looking Back: 100 years ago 1916Officers elected for the Ripley County Motor club included J. F. Lochard, Thomas Thompson, W. D. Robinson, and Fred Arkenberg. Township chairmen would be Clarence Miller of Adams, Sam Ellerman of Brown, Frank Poulter of Center, Bert Vayhinger of Delaware, George Schermer of Franklin, Frank Grow of Jackson, A. H. Beer of Johnson, Peter Holzer of Laughery, O. P. Shook of Otter Creek, Hayes Shaffer of Shelby, and W. E. Smith of Washington. Read more Ripley County history in the Looking Back column on page 3 of the Osgood Journal. Looking Back is featured every Tuesday in the Osgood Journal.

Share your news with the community!

• Got a news tip or photo?
Submit past images with a description to Wanda Burnett at wburnett@ripleynews.com, publication@ripleynews.com or submit your information to PO Box 158, Versailles, IN 47042. Call Ripley Publishing at 812-689-6364 for more information.